Method and device for unloading sheet-like objects from containers

ABSTRACT

A method and device for unloading stacked sheet-like items from an open box-shaped container with an open top into a v-shaped receiving device is provided. The box-shaped container is inserted into a holding device. The top of the box-shaped container is closed off with a plunger. The box-shaped container and holding device is swung such that a side wall of the holding device is approximately aligned against and overlaps a flank of the v-shaped receiving device. The plunger is lifted off the top of the box-shaped container and swung to the side such that the items slide into the receiving device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method and a device for unloading sheet-likeitems, stacked one above the other with their flat sides, in particularletters, from box-shaped containers that are open on the top into av-shaped receiving device.

Up to now, postal items and in particular large envelopes have alwaysbeen delivered to a letter-sorting machine such that the items arestacked flat one above the other in box-shaped containers, each with anopen top. An operator then removes the postal items from the containersand places these into a v-shaped receiving device, after which they arehandled automatically.

European Patent A-464771 additionally discloses a solution using acontainer tilting device where the operator no longer must lift thepostal items from the container, but must push them from the tiltedcontainer onto the receiving device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to create a device and a method forautomatically placing the sheet-like items, arriving flatly stacked inthe container, into an upright position for sorting in the transferdevice.

For a method of the aforementioned type, this object is solved accordingto the invention in that the containers are respectively inserted into aholding device and the opening of the respective container issubsequently closed off with a plunger. Following this, the closedholding device is swung with one side wall approximately aligned againstone of the flanks of the receiving device, thereby overlapping thisflank, wherein the closed opening is facing the v-shaped bottom of thereceiving device. The plunger is then removed from the items and isswung to the side, such that the items slide into the receiving device.

The aforementioned object is furthermore solved according to theinvention for a device of the initially mentioned type in that theindividual containers can be inserted into a holding device and theopening of the respective container can be closed off with a plunger.The closed holding device can subsequently be swung with one side wallapproximately aligned against one of the flanks of the receiving device,thereby overlapping this flank, wherein the closed opening is facing thev-shaped bottom of the receiving device, such that the plunger can belifted off the items and swung to the side and the items can slide intothe receiving device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and isexplained in further detail in the following, wherein:

FIGS. 1 to 4 Show successive situations during the automated handling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The basic diagram shown in FIG. 1 illustrates how a container B forpostal items G is inserted from a loading plane BN into a holding deviceHV. The insertion movement, which is directed toward therepresentational plane, is indicated with a crossed circle. Thecontainer B in the inserted state is secured in the holding device HVwith auxiliary means, not shown herein for reasons of clarity. Thecontainer B, which is then secured immovably in the holding device HV,is open on the top. A plunger S is located to the side of holding deviceHV. The purpose of this plunger will be discussed further in thefollowing since it is extremely important to the invention.

A tub-shaped receiving device A for postal items, in particular forlarge envelopes, is arranged above the holding device HV. The receivingdevice A has a v-shape alignment and is designed to accept the flatlystacked items G such that they are standing on edge.

The illustration according to FIG. 2 shows that by executing a swingingmovement, as indicated with an arrow, the plunger S is pressed againstthe postal items G, thereby covering the tub-shaped container B.

Following this, the holding device HV with secured container B andpostal items G located therein is swung upward, as indicated with thearrow in FIG. 3. The pressed-on plunger S prevents the postal items Gfrom falling out of the container B. The holding device HV is in thisway moved toward the receiving device A, so as to prepare for anindependent removal of the postal items G, as indicated in theillustration according to FIG. 4. The arrow in this Figure furthermoreshows that the plunger S is lifted off the postal items G, wherein theitems G slide into the tub-shaped receiving device A. For this, theplunger S is also pulled off to the side.

From this position, the holding device HV can move the containers intoan unloading plane, which does not necessarily have to coincide with theloading plane BN where containers are again released from the holdingdevice HV into the process. Following this, the holding device HV isonce more available for accepting new containers.

In principle, the receiving device A for postal items G can be arrangedstationary. However, it is also possible that the receiving device A ismoved to downstream transfer positions by another mechanism, which isnot shown for reasons of clarity.

We claim:
 1. A method for unloading stacked sheet-like items from abox-shaped container with an open top into a v-shaped receiving device,the method comprising: inserting the box-shaped container into a holdingdevice; closing off the top of the box-shaped container with a plunger;swinging the box-shaped container and holding device such that a sidewall of the holding device is approximately aligned against and overlapsa flank of the v-shaped receiving device; and lifting the plunger offthe top of the box-shaped container and swinging the plunger to one sidesuch that the items slide into the receiving device, wherein thereceiving device is stationary during the unloading method.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the items are letters.
 3. A device forunloading stacked sheet-like items, comprising: a box-shaped containerhaving an open top; a holding device with at least one side wall and abottom, said box-shaped container being inserted into the holdingdevice; a v-shaped receiving device having at least one flank to form av-shaped bottom, wherein the v-shaped receiving device remainsstationary during unloading of the items; a plunger for closing off thetop of the box-shaped container; means for swinging the closed-offbox-shaped container and the holding device with the plunger closing offthe top so that at least one of the side walls of the holding device isaligned against at least one flank to overlap the flank; and means forlifting the plunger off the top of the box-shaped container such thatthe items slide into the receiving device.
 4. The device of claim 3,wherein the items are letters.